Buffon: young Monaco stars will “feel indestructible”

Juventus keeper Gianluigi Buffon said that Monaco’s young stars will “feel indestructible” when both teams meet in the Champions League semi-final.

However, Buffon, 39, reserved that experience would be they key that will bring Juventus victory.

On the way to the semi-finals, Monaco stunned both Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund to reach the last four with some vibrant attacking play.

“They have youth and the insouciance that comes with it,” Buffon said, “But I think over the two matches, 180 minutes, experience will play into our hands.”

“I remember when I was young having that feeling of being indestructible. Monaco are a daring team — they like to attack and they do it very well. Their coach has an attacking philosophy and their players have scored an avalanche of goals this season.”

Kylian Mbappe, 18, has a run of five goals for Monaco in four knockout matches against City and Dortmund, and the team have scored 95 goals in 34 league games so far. The Ligue 1 club are also on course for the French title, and will match their achievement of reaching the 2004 Champions League final if victorious over two legs against Juve.

On the other hand, Juventus themselves are nine points clear at the top of Serie A — a title they won for the past five years — and are hoping for a second Champions League final appearance in three years. They are also the only unbeaten team in this season’s Champions League (W7 D3) and have not conceded a goal for 531 minutes, the longest streak in the competition.